At Nivel, we focus on themes that can only be understood by bringing together different perspectives. That is why our collaboration with Radboud Social Cultural Research (RSCR) is so valuable.
How did the collaboration with RSCR begin?
Ever since we established the special chair in Labour and Organisational Issues in Healthcare, we have worked closely with RSCR. Through this chair, we collaborate on PhD projects, Master's programmes and internship projects.
What are you currently working on with RSCR?
We are particularly interested in how healthcare professions and educational programmes are changing in response to new developments within the Dutch healthcare system. For example, we want to understand how the professional identity of healthcare professionals is evolving, which skills nurses need, and how GPs can make the best use of their time.
Why collaborate with Radboud Social Cultural Research?
For me, the added value of RSCR lies mainly in the sociological expertise that its researchers bring. Healthcare, the healthcare labour market and healthcare professions cannot be properly understood without insight into the underlying social structures and mechanisms. Healthcare is not only about individual choices but also about institutions, policies, professional norms, and the interactions among different stakeholders. It is precisely from this perspective that RSCR makes an important contribution to our research projects. In addition, the collaboration brings new methodological insights that help us investigate and understand policy issues more effectively.
What is a good example of your collaboration?
An inspiring example comes from the PhD research of Elize Vis. In this project, we explored why some people with chronic illnesses receive more support from their social networks than others. For instance, we were curious to find out if an individual lacking a social safety net encounters more challenges in a municipality that has implemented major cuts to social services. We translated existing national policy theories to the municipal level and applied them in our research. I find this approach particularly powerful because it allowed us to go beyond answering a single question. We also learned to look differently at how the surrounding environment influences individuals and organisations. This way of working continues to be valuable for us. It has given us a better understanding of why similar projects can produce very different results across regions.
Mutual reinforcement
What I find particularly valuable about the collaboration with RSCR is that both organisations strengthen each other. At Nivel, we identify the practical and policy-related issues that arise within healthcare. These issues, in turn, inspire new lines of research within RSCR. At the same time, RSCR’s theoretical and methodological expertise helps us further strengthen the scientific foundation of our research and train new researchers. For me, this is the greatest benefit of our collaboration: a continuous interaction between science, policy and practice. It not only generates new insights but also helps develop researchers who can connect these different worlds. That is exactly what is needed to address the major challenges facing healthcare today and in the future.